Mourinho is just what Real needed, says Zidane

Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, who Real Madrid poached from Inter Milan at the end of last season, is just what the Spanish giants needed, the club’s former French midfielder Zinedine Zidane said in an interview published Wednesday.

“The team needed a change, of a coach with personality, a firm hand, and I think he fits that profile,” he told sports daily Marca in South Africa where he is sponsoring a youth competition.

“For me Jose Mourinho was what Real Madrid needed,” he added. “I have much trust in Mourinho, as well as in the players which we have because the majority are young and they have much quality.”

Zidane, 38, has been a special adviser to the chairman of Real, Florentino Perez, since June 2009. He retired from football after his fifth season with Real in 2006 and the World Cup that year.

Mourinho in May replaced Chile’s Manuel Pellegrini to become Real’s 11th coach in the past seven years.

The 47-year-old won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan last season. He also won two domestic titles with Porto, two with Chelsea and two with Inter.

Big-spending Real Madrid won the last of its 31 La Liga crowns in 2008.

The club was eliminated from the Champions League in the first knockout round for the sixth year last year.